People Advisor

Outcomes First Group; Bolton; Hybrid; GBP 27,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading education and care provider in the UK is seeking a People Advisor to offer expert advice on complex employee relations while supporting managers. Responsibilities include managing employee cases, ensuring compliance with UK employment law, and coaching leadership teams. Ideal candidates will have strong interpersonal skills and experience in complex HR environments. The role offers a hybrid working model, competitive salary, and various benefits including life assurance and mental health support.

Benefits

Life Assurance & Pension

Mental and physical health support

Flexible Benefits Platform

Cycle to Work Scheme

Critical Illness Cover

Qualifications

• Experience in managing complex employee cases in multi-site or matrix organisations.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Ability to coach and influence managers and senior leaders.

Responsibilities

• Advise on employee issues: performance, long-term absence, grievance, and change.
• Manage a large portfolio of employee cases ensuring timely resolution.
• Prepare and review case documentation including investigation notes.

Skills

Complex employee case management

UK employment law knowledge

Coaching and influencing skills

Excellent communication skills

Organisational change experience

Education

CIPD Level 5 or equivalent

Job description

People Advisor

Location: Hybrid - Bolton (initially 3 days in office, 2 WFH; moving to 2 days in office with 4DWW after 6 months)

Salary: Up to £32,000 per annum (dependent on experience/qualifications)

Contract: 12-month Fixed Term

Hours: 37.5 per week, Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm

Why Join Us?

At Outcomes First Group (OFG), we're reimagining work/life balance. As part of the 4-Day Working Week trial, you could work 80% of your usual hours while earning 100% of your pay. OFG is the UK's largest independent provider of high-quality special needs education and care and a Great Place to Work (5 years running).

About Us

We deliver personalised, research-led education in smaller class sizes, aiming to empower every child to reach their potential. Our divisional brands include Acorn Education, Options Autism, Blenheim Schools, and Momenta Connect.

Role Overview

The People Advisor provides expert advice on complex employee relations across OFG, supporting managers and senior leaders to ensure fair, consistent, and compliant handling of people matters. You'll lead case management, contribute to best practice, policies, and manager capability within a large, matrix organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Advise on employee issues: performance, long-term absence, grievance, disciplinary, safeguarding, and organisational change.
• Manage a large portfolio of employee cases end-to-end, ensuring timely, compliant resolution.
• Coach managers to handle employee matters confidently and consistently.
• Partner with senior leaders to deliver people solutions balancing risk, compliance, and business needs.
• Prepare and review case documentation, including investigation notes, outcome letters, and legal correspondence.
• Support restructures, redundancies, TUPE transfers, and consultation processes.
• Analyse trends, provide insights, and develop proactive interventions.
• Maintain accurate HR records and contribute to projects, training, and policy development.

Requirements

Essential:

• Experience managing complex employee cases in multi-site or matrix organisations.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Ability to coach and influence managers and senior leaders.
• Experience in organisational change (restructures, redundancies, consultations, TUPE).
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, organisation, and prioritisation skills.

Desirable:

• Experience in regulated environments (education, healthcare, care).
• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent.
• Experience delivering employee-related training.

Benefits

• Life Assurance & Pension (with flexible options)
• Mental and physical health support
• Enhanced maternity/paternity and fertility treatment support
• Flexible Benefits Platform (health, wellbeing, insurance, discounts)
• Cycle to Work & Electric Car Schemes
• Critical Illness Cover

We are committed to safeguarding children; all roles require enhanced DBS and social media checks.

Note: 4DWW is subject to probation and is not contractual. Vacancy may close early if a high volume of applications is received